ABSTRACTA major challenge faced by nurse‐midwifery students is that of learning to utilize the nurse‐midwifery management process as a foundation for clinical practice. The authors have attempted to unravel some of the difficult areas students have found while learning to master this process. This article seeks to remove the mystique from essential steps of the nurse‐midwifery management process as well as give insight into common pitfalls of beginning practice. Its intent is to help students (and indirectly the nurse‐midwifery clinicians who guide them) in their quest for the development of mature judgment and ability to manage care skillfully and